North of Vietnam & Laos – 14days

After a nice breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven to Ha Long and arrive at the port of embarkation. You will then board a beautiful junk and enjoy a delicious lunch with seafood dishes while your vessel cruises through magnificent landscapes made of thousands of karst islets floating on emerald waters. This unique landscape is classified as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO.

During the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to refresh yourself by swimming in the waters of the bay, exploring astonishing caves, or kayaking to discover the bay and its hidden treasures. At the end of this unforgettable day, the boat will anchor at a quiet site and you will have lunch onboard.

Overnight on the junk in Ha Long Bay.

Wake up early and enjoy breakfast onboard while observing the sunrise. Then, you will continue cruising and sightseeing in Ha Long Bay before heading back to the port, where our driver is waiting for you.

Hop on the bus – you will be driven through the Red River Delta from Ha Long to Hai Phong, then Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh.

While on the way, you will make a few stops at Luc Village: enjoy a peaceful bike ride through villages and rice fields. A great opportunity to discover the daily life scenes of farmers in the Red River Delta. You might witness rice husking, or visit an artisanal workshop. Meet friendly and hospitable farmers.

Today, you will visit the Ninh Binh Region, and most notably Hoa Lu and Tam Coc, the site where limestone peaks emerge from the middle of rice fields, often dubbed as “Ha Long Bay on Land”.

Then, you will reach Trang An Caves complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will board a small sampan and cruise on a river to penetrate 9 caves (including those of Ba Giot, Dia Linh, Toi – “Dark Cave” –, Sang – “Bright Cave –, Ao Trai and Seo) and multiple valleys (including those of Tran Temple, May, Khong and Nau Ruou). Later, you will go to Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest in Vietnam, with its 500 arhats and an architecture similar to the Imperial City in China. At the end of your visit, you will be driven to Mai Chau, a wonderful natural haven.

Afternoon: Visit to Dinh and Le Temple & Tuyet Tinh Coc & Biking.

Departure towards the Pu Luong Nature Reserve, taking a beautiful mountain road. You will arrive in Pu Luong around noon. Lunch with a local family.

Afternoon: Visit to a family engaged in artisanal weaving of colorful textiles. Then transfer to the suspension bridge over the Cham River, where you will see magnificent water wheels (norias) installed on the banks of the stream, one of the iconic images of Pu Luong. These gigantic water wheels are a clever irrigation system that brings water from the stream to the rice fields. Approach each wheel and discover this original irrigation method of the Thai ethnic group. Understand how water moves from a river to a handcrafted bamboo aqueduct through simple installations of all sizes.

Bamboo rafting along the stream to fully enjoy the serenity of nature and the picturesque landscapes on both sides of the stream. You can try paddling and steering the bamboo raft yourself.

Overnight with a local family in an Ecolodge in the village of Ban Don.

After breakfast, take a walk along the small paths lined with tropical vegetation and stilt houses with palm leaf-covered roofs. Discover the beautiful rice valley of Don Ngon Leo. Immerse yourself in the calm nature and appreciate a stunning rural backdrop: terraced rice fields, ponds, stilt houses of the Thai Black people nestled at the foot of the mountain. Observe the daily life of the villagers and their agricultural activities. Take this opportunity to interact with the local residents and capture beautiful photos. Lunch in Pu Luong.

Afternoon: Head to a village deep in the Mai Chauvalley , away from the tourist crowds. Bike ride in the valley (5 km – 20 km), interactions with the locals. In case your stay coincides with the planting or harvesting season, you can participate in agricultural activities with the locals, such as preparing the land with a buffalo, transplanting rice, or harvesting.

Evening: Folk music and dance performance.

Tasting of straw-filtered rice alcohol, a typical Thai drink known as "Can."

After a nice breakfast, you will visit Cun Pheo, a beautiful ethnic village. Then, you will start a 2-hour trek through amazing rice terraces and charming villages, during which you will observe the life of the locals and be amazed by the surrounding nature. Later, you will stop at a local house to refresh yourself and have lunch.

In the afternoon, you will be driven to Son La. On the way, you will stop several times to visit villages and take nice pictures of tea plantations covered hills.

Overnight at a hotel in Son La.

Enjoy a nice breakfast before departing for your final destination of the day, Dien Bien Phu (170 km from Son La). You will go through a region inhabited by Thai, Muong, and H’Mong ethnic groups. You will stop by Thuan Chau Market, where Black Thai women gather to trade different agricultural products and hand-made fabrics. Later, you will also stop at Pha Din Pass (altitude: 1,648 m), where you will enjoy an incredible view of the valley and villages. At Pha Din Pass, you will meet Red Pompons H’Mong.

Then, you will take a bus to Muong Phang, where you will start a short 1-km walk in the forest to visit the legendary cave of General Giap. After that, you will return to the car and head to Dien Bien Phu.

Overnight at the hotel.

This morning, you will be transported to the border between Vietnam and Laos. You will exit Vietnam and cross the Tay Trang / Sop Hun border pass to enter Laos.

Then, you will be driven through Oudomxay province. You will stop at several ethnic villages inhabited by Khmu and H’Mong people. While on this trip, your guide will give you more information about local traditions, culture, and lifestyle of the inhabitants of this region. You will discover the customs of Khmu people at Ban Chom Ong and visit the cave system of Chom Ong. You will also learn more about the different local crafts.

Later, you will continue on the road until reaching Ban Nam Heang, a peaceful village where you will stay overnight. Meet your hosts at the homestay before taking part in a Baci Ceremony to celebrate your visit to the village and welcome you.

Dinner and overnight at the homestay.

Have a nice breakfast before visiting the surrounding area. Then, you will hop in the car and go to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, home to thousands of gold-lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes deposited there by pilgrims. After that, you will enjoy a boat cruise along a river, until stopping at Ban Xang Hai Village, where a famous local rice whiskey is made.

Later, you will visit Ban Xang Khong and Ban Xieng Lek villages, specialized in weaving, before going to Wat Siphouthabath to admire the sunset.

Finally, you will reach Luang Prabang. Check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay in Luang Prabang.

Wake up as the sun rises, prepare to join the most sacred tradition of Laos, the daily morning alms giving, – an awe-inspiring sight which dates to the 14th century. Hundreds of saffron-robed monks depart from various temples to gather their daily meal from the faithful residents sitting quietly on the streets. Please tell your guide a day in advance if you wish to make an offering so he/she can prepare some food for you to hand over to the monks

Today this town, the ancient capital of Xang Lane Kingdom, is the religious center of the country. Today, Luang Prabang is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Interesting sites to discover in Luang Prabang include:

Wat Visoun (or Wat Wisunarat): this temple dates from the 16th century and is today acting as a museum where you can find a lot of religious items

Wat Aham: dating from the 19th century, this temple is guarded by two tigers and by statues representing Ravana and Hanuman.

Wat Xieng Thong: largely recognized as the most elegant temple in the city, this 16th-century edification is remarkable due to its original architecture.

National Museum: the old Royal Palace now houses a collection of precious items that include the famous Pha Bang statue, a flamboyant 83-cm gold-alloy Buddha representation.

Phu Si (or Phou Si): you will have to climb 328 steps to get to the top of this hill, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Luang Prabang.

In the evening, you will discover the night market, where you will find beautiful artisanal fabrics.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After a nice breakfast at the hotel, you will go for an excursion that will lead you to the amazing Kuang Si Falls, nestled amongst a lush nature. On your way, you will visit Talat Phosy Market and Ban Na Oune Village, where H’Mong people are living. You will also visit the peaceful Ban Tha Baen Village, home to both the Tai Lue and Khmu ethnic groups.

Please make sure to bring your own food for the picnic lunch, or if you wish, you will be able to eat at a local restaurant. Finally, you will reach Kuang Si Falls, where you will relax and refresh by bathing in the water pools or hiking on forest trails.

Later, you will be driven back to Luang Prabang. Overnight at the hotel.

• 8:00 am - 8:30 am: Pick up by our English Speaking Guide from your hotel lobby within Luang Prabang, Laos
• Arrive at the Elephant Village Camp: Welcome greeting by your guide and participate in a short briefing about elephants
• Elephant Feeding: Get up close and personal with elephants
• Explore Elephant Village: Visit elephant hospital, museum, photo gallery and dung paper making area
• Learn to communicate with elephants: Enjoy the impressiveness of being a mahout and how they communicate with the elephants.
• Bathe the elephant: take the elephants down to the Nam Khan River for an exhilarating bathing experience!
• Trek along the Trail of Falls: Enjoy a 2km trek along our exclusive Trail of Falls
• Lunch: Dine in the forest surrounding. a picnic box lunch prepared just for you at our camp restaurant (vegetarian options available).
• Continue of the Trail of Falls: Enjoy another 1 km trek on foot along the Trail of Falls, which follows a beautiful stream leading up to Tad Sae Waterfall.
• Tad Sae Waterfall: Arrive at Tad Sae Waterfall and relax, dip your feet or take a swim in the clear, cool water
• Boat trip back from Tad Sae waterfall: Ride in a traditional Lao long boat to the Tad Sawe Waterfall
• Depart: Transfer back to your Hotel in Luang Prabang between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm

Start your final day of the trip with a nice breakfast, before enjoying your free time at your own leisure, until being driven to the airport for your departure flight.

Please contact us for more information about this tour or to customize this itinerary.